Mekong River Cruise from Cambodia to Vietnam: The Aussie Visa Playbook for 2026
A Mekong cruise from Phnom Penh to Saigon is the slowest, prettiest, and least-stressful way to do the Cambodia-to-Vietnam crossing. Operators handle the paperwork onboard — but Australians still need to sort both visas before they board.
How do Australians handle visas for a Mekong river cruise from Phnom Penh to Saigon?
You arrange both visas yourself before you board, even though the cruise crew handles the actual border paperwork onboard. Apply for the Cambodia eVisa ($80 USD / ~$122 AUD all-in, approved in 3 business days, delivered as a printable PDF by email) at least two weeks before your flight to Phnom Penh. Apply for the Vietnam eVisa ($25 USD / ~$38 AUD single-entry) about three weeks before sailing. Both arrive as PDFs. The cruise purser collects every passport onboard the day before the Kaam Samnar–Vinh Xuong river crossing, processes Cambodian exit and Vietnamese entry while you sleep, and returns the lot at breakfast. You also still need the Cambodia e-Arrival Card for the flight into KTI Phnom Penh.
نکات کلیدی
- A 7 to 14-night Mekong cruise from Phnom Penh to Saigon costs roughly $2,500 to $6,000 AUD per person on operators like AmaWaterways, Avalon, Pandaw, and Heritage Line.
- You still need to apply for both visas yourself before you board: Cambodia eVisa at $80 USD (~$122 AUD) and Vietnam eVisa at $25 USD (~$38 AUD) single-entry.
- The river border crossing is handled onboard by the cruise pursers — your passports are collected the day before, stamped at the Kaam Samnar–Vinh Xuong river checkpoint, and returned at breakfast.
- Cambodia visa-on-arrival exists at Phnom Penh airport but is unreliable. The eVisa is the safer pre-trip option and is approved in 3 business days.
- You do still need a Cambodia e-Arrival Card for the flight into Phnom Penh, even though the cruise itself exits Cambodia by river.
- Aussie cruisers typically fly Sydney/Melbourne to Bangkok or Singapore, connect to Phnom Penh (KTI), do the cruise, then fly home from Saigon (SGN).
Why a Mekong cruise works so well for Aussies in 2026
The four operators Aussies actually book
AmaWaterways and Avalon
Pandaw and Heritage Line
Visa logistics: two visas, three business days, one PDF
Apply in this order
Apply for both visas in the same fortnight, but submit the Cambodia eVisa first — it carries the tighter 3-month validity window from issue, and you want the validity clock to start as close to your embarkation date as possible. Vietnam eVisa is valid for 30 days from your stated entry date, which usually lines up with the river crossing.
How the river border crossing actually works onboard
What the operators will not do
No cruise operator on the Mekong applies for visas on your behalf. They check, collect, present, and return. The application itself sits with you. If you turn up at embarkation without a Cambodia eVisa or Vietnam eVisa already approved, you will be denied boarding and your fare is non-refundable in most operator T&Cs.
سوالات متداول
Does the Mekong cruise operator apply for my Cambodia and Vietnam visas?
No. Every operator — AmaWaterways, Avalon, Pandaw, Heritage Line — expects you to turn up at embarkation with both visas already approved and printed. They check, collect, present at the river checkpoints, and return your passport. The application itself sits with you. Apply for the Cambodia eVisa ($80 USD / ~$122 AUD all-in, 3 business days) and Vietnam eVisa ($25 USD / ~$38 AUD single-entry) about 3 to 6 weeks before sailing.
Do I need a multi-entry Vietnam visa for a Cambodia-to-Saigon cruise?
No, single-entry is fine if Saigon is your final overseas stop and you fly home from there. You enter Vietnam once at the Kaam Samnar–Vinh Xuong river checkpoint and exit once by air at Tan Son Nhat (SGN). If your wider trip plan involves leaving Vietnam and re-entering — say Saigon to Phnom Penh and back — you need the $50 USD (~$76 AUD) multi-entry version. Decide before you apply; you cannot upgrade single to multi after issue.
How long does the Mekong river border crossing take?
From the passenger's perspective, you sleep through it. The purser collects passports the evening before, Cambodian Immigration boards and stamps exit stamps usually between 11pm and 1am, the ship drifts the short distance to the Vietnamese checkpoint, Vietnamese Immigration boards and stamps entry stamps between 2am and 4am, and your passport is returned at breakfast. End to end the official processing is around two hours but you experience none of it.
Which Mekong cruise operator is best for Australian travellers?
AmaWaterways and Avalon Waterways carry the largest Aussie passenger share in 2026 and their onboard mix is often 30–50% Australians. Pandaw is the sentimental pick for travellers who want colonial-era teak boats and longer 10–14 night journeys. Heritage Line is the boutique design-led option for shorter 4–8 night itineraries that fit a standard two-week annual leave. All four handle the river border crossing identically. Pick on cruise length, ship style, and cabin tier, not on visa handling.
What does a 7-night Mekong cruise from Phnom Penh to Saigon cost in Australian dollars?
Expect $2,500 to $6,000 AUD per person twin-share, depending on operator and cabin tier. AmaWaterways and Avalon sit at the top of the range, $4,500 to $6,000 AUD for a 7-night Phnom Penh-to-Saigon sailing on a higher cabin tier. Pandaw and Heritage Line run $2,500 to $4,800 AUD for comparable lengths. Visas, e-Arrival, and travel insurance add roughly $215 AUD per person on top of the fare.
منابع
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